Headspace question #102

[fguffey]

So you run your ram up then place the feeler gauges on the shell holder then run die down on top of gauges then lock the die to get desired tolerances ?

Yes. I secure the die to the press with the lock ring, I do not secure the lock ring to the die,

F. Guffey

 

[GSPV]

Die dimensions do not necessarily reflect your chamber dimensions.

Suggest that you set up your die based on your chamb r.

You can use the chamber directly using a lightly lubed, fire formed case and a stripped bolt.

Lots of info around on how to do it.

 

[muleman69]

Die dimensions do not necessarily reflect your chamber dimensions.

Suggest that you set up your die based on your chamb r.

You can use the chamber directly using a lightly lubed, fire formed case and a stripped bolt.

Lots of info around on how to do it.

Sounds good ,I need to find some info on measuring chamber

 

[GSPV]

You don’t measure the chamber. You use it.

Find out how to strip the bolt in the rifle.

When the stripped bolt will close on sized brass without undue effort(*), there is no sense in sizing it any further.

* Some people set it up so that the handle of the stripped bolt closes almost all the way just by gravity and needing only light pressure from a finger to close the rest of the way. Other folks set it up so that it will just barely close completely on its own without any pressure.

 

[mike a]

You don’t measure the chamber. You use it.

Find out how to strip the bolt in the rifle.

When the stripped bolt will close on sized brass without undue effort(*), there is no sense in sizing it any further.

* Some people set it up so that the handle of the stripped bolt closes almost all the way just by gravity and needing only light pressure from a finger to close the rest of the way. Other folks set it up so that it will just barely close completely on its own without any pressure.

i thought not having the stripped bolt close all the way was a good idea. Thinking zero headspace would help center the case and make my brass last longer. Turns out I ended up with galled lugs. Its .002 for me now. .004 and case heads will start to separate after just a few firings.

 

[fguffey]

Sounds good ,I need to find some info on measuring chamber

Finding the information is one thing; convincing someone it is possible is another.

F. Guffey

 

[Webster]

Shoot em

You now have 8000 replies in 4 years, must be a record.

 

[Webster]

The rifle is not unique, I checked the length of the chamber and found it to be .002" longer than a field reject length gage. For cases I used 280 Remington cases because the Remington 280 case is longer than the 30/06 case from the shoulder to the case head .051". For me it was a matter of using a 30/06 forming die to shorten the case from the shoulder to the case head .017". After I shorten the case from the shoulder to the case head I adjusted the full length sizer .014" off of the shell holder and then sized the case. In the process I obtained the 'magic .002" clearance after sizing.

I understand: there are many reloaders that are Wildly Indignant about ever thing but the Redding Competition Shell holder set has a limitation, the reduction in deck height is .010"; I needed .014" and then there are the adjustments of the die in the forming process. Limitation? The 5 shell holder set from Redding gives the reloader 5 options, the feeler gage set allows me to make 25 adjustments between minimum length to .025" longer than a minimum length/full length sized case. AND! I do not have to purchases a different set for each shell holder.

F. Guffey

I never thought reloading was that complicated. 48 years of reloading. No problems. For 45 years I never measured anything but overall length.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

You now have 8000 replies in 4 years, must be a record.

And yet people still ask my opinion! What are you getting at?

 

[jimmymac]

And yet people still ask my opinion! What are you getting at?

Some people aren't happy unless they poop in other peoples Wheaties.

 

[GSPV]

i thought not having the stripped bolt close all the way was a good idea. Thinking zero headspace would help center the case and make my brass last longer. Turns out I ended up with galled lugs. Its .002 for me now. .004 and case heads will start to separate after just a few firings.

If you set it such that the bolt handle almost closes all by itself, and it needs just the barest pressure of one finger to close, it will be about 0.002 bump. I set mine more than that. Like a real 0.003.

I also know to put a smidge of EP grease on my logs and primary extraction surface. :/

 

[muleman69]

And yet people still ask my opinion! What are you getting at?

I really need to take a lesson from Web. No problems in 48 years.This would end my frustration